Tommy Gainey has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour season opener, showing selfless reasons behind his decision.
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season opener will take place without a former champion. Tommy Gainey will not participate in the Bahama Golf Classic as he wants to give younger players a chance to break through. The 50-year-old won the tournament in 2020 and was eligible to play until this year.
Tommy Gainey: \”It’s Ten Times Harder Than In My Day\”
Tommy Gainey joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2007 (then the Nationwide Tour) and won two tournaments in 2010 to earn his full PGA Tour card. He quickly found success and peaked in 2012 with a final round 60 to win the McGladrey Classic, his only PGA Tour victory.
After years of struggles on and off the golf course, Gainey returned to the winner’s circle at the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. It was his third Tour win, granting him an exemption to participate in this event through 2026.
However, Gainey declined the invitation to tournament director Josh Franklin, preferring to give young players a chance to prove themselves on the Korn Ferry Tour and advance to the PGA Tour. He said he loves the event and would like to compete but understands how difficult it is nowadays to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour. Considering the changes in both tours, he believes it’s more important for someone who has worked their way up to benefit from the exemption.
He was quoted saying, \”It’s ten times harder than in my day. I didn’t want to take anyone’s spot. These young players are so good that anyone can win, even the last player in the field.\”
Champions Tour Victory Enables This Decision
When Gainey turned 50 in August, he gained access to another route besides the Korn Ferry Tour: the Champions Tour. Last year, he played nine events on the senior circuit and won the October Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament. His results earned him a full Champions Tour card this year, so he no longer needs to rely on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Nonetheless, it is commendable that Gainey is forgoing the chance at $1,000,000 in prize money to give other players an opportunity to establish themselves in the sport.
Tommy Gainey was in the @BahamasKFTour next week as a past champion of the event. It’s his last year for his past champion exemption.
A friend of his called me and said he WD, so a young guy could get a start. So I called him.
Of course Tommy picked up. Said he loves the…